Now Commenting On:

D-backs set rotation for opening series

3/5/13: Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy talks about his outing against Team Mexico and preparing for the 2013 regular season

By Steve Gilbert
/
MLB.com |

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The D-backs will start Ian Kennedy, Trevor Cahill and Brandon McCarthy, in that order, in their opening series against the Cardinals.

If Wade Miley shows he's fully recovered from his tired arm that he experienced a couple of weeks ago, he would start the fourth game of the season against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

"Just being cautious about that, we want to make sure," manager Kirk Gibson said. "We can't have him go out and throw and two starts later have a sore arm. If that's going to be the case then we'd take our time."

If Miley is healthy enough to make that start, the team would likely use five starters the first time through the rotation, with Patrick Corbin or Randall Delgado filling that spot. With an off-day during the season's first week, the D-backs could have elected to go with four starters the first time through the rotation, but adding an extra starter will ease the early-season workload.

The D-backs will have a better idea about Miley on Saturday after he faces the Reds at Chase Field. The team would like him to get up to around 90 pitches with the same life that he showed in his last outing.

Both D-backs general manager Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson insist that a decision has not been made between Corbin and Delgado. Corbin will start Friday's game, while Delgado will follow Miley to the mound on Saturday.

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.